CEO Chris Markert has outlined a vision of professionalism, realism, and camaraderie with a view towards making QVA into a true VA equivalent of its real-world counterpart, which is one of the world’s few true five-star airlines. Those interested in pilot or staff positions should visit http://www.qatar-virtual-airways.com, or contact Chris via e-mail at ceo@qatar-virtual-airways.com.

Although they will be stopping expansion in terms of adding airlines for now, Bourne Aviation will be expanding on communication, design, and other things of that nature that will benefit their pilots.

In a related story, as Horizon Air discontinued its use of the Q200 aircraft, Bourne Aviation will take action to reflect these changes in their system as well.

Bourne Aviation is a group of virtual airlines offering an advanced system for recording all the flights in one single logbook, a ranking system based directly on the number of hours flown, a dedicated “Flying School,” maps generated for logbooks, a very rich and informative list of recommended pay ware and free-ware add-ons for Microsoft Flight Simulator 9 and Microsoft Flight Simulator X, a friendly flight simulation community for members to meet other Bourne Aviation pilots, a collection of free-ware aircraft and repaints compatible with FSX and FS9, and their defining feature, a single account to fly all our virtual airlines. For more information, visit their site at: http://www.bourneaviation.com/index.php

The cash infusion originates from a clause in its agreement with investors stimulating from financial performance. “When EastJet Virtual was shopping for investors, we agreed to certain terms giving EastJet the ability to delay profit sharing, and in this case, additional funding if we meet certain goals,” said Mr. Fitts and added, when asked how EastJet managed to make a profit when select few airlines are even in business in the current market, “along with the one time cash infusion, we arranged a one year profit sharing freeze. Our investors are dedicated to the EastJet Virtual brand and have confidence in the leadership.”

Mr. Fitts continued with, “we expect to make a few announcements in the coming weeks regarding some changes, but at this time we have nothing to announce.” Matt Laiter, COO, stated: “this financial infusion in which EastJet is receiving, is a critical step in our future. It opens many possibilities for us, although nothing specific yet, but the future looks even brighter, especially in these difficult times.” 

The infusion, totaling $410 Million, brings EastJet’s cash level to $550 Million with the addition of its $140 Million reported on hand at the end of fiscal Q3. 

For more information or to join, visit WWW.EASTJETVIRTUAL.COM

Some features of the new program include: the ability to register new members, add members, assign members a rank, list total hours by member, list total hours by airline, register flights, remove flights from schedule, remove members, edit members, edit flights, and list total flights. The software is currently in v1.0 build but is currently developing v1.1 to be ready for the February 2009 release.

Any airlines interested in using Pirep Systems Software should visit their website for more information.

Learn more at www.premierairways.com

The A380 is currently offered in the classic livery but will soon be offered with the new Dolphin Prism livery developed for the contemporary airline. This features leaping dolphins in the same colors as the stripe along the side of the aircraft. Routes for the A380 currently include service to Honolulu from Los Angeles and San
Francisco, but in development are flights from Chicago to Honolulu via San Francisco,  Dallas-Ft. Worth to Honolulu via Los Angeles, Tokyo to Honolulu non-stop and Sydney to Honolulu non-stop.

The Hawaii Express (THX) has also made plans to acquire an Airbus A340-313 and the aircraft is currently completing its final checks prior to delivery. The aircraft will feature the Dolphin Prism livery and pictures are available on their website. The A340 will take up the medium density routes, like Atlanta to Honolulu via Los Angeles, Denver to Honolulu via San Francisco, Brisbane to Honolulu non-stop and Nadi/Fiji to Honolulu non-stop.

Scheduled for entry around Christmas 2008, an Airbus around Christmas, an A330-200 will be introduced and will operate non-stops to Honolulu from Faa’a/Tahiti, Anchorage and Seattle. There may be one more flight for this aircraft but the announcement for that will not be forthcoming until after the beginning of December.

The 21st Century version of the airline will not offer service around the islands as the 1983 version does, nor will it offer service to Kona. There is also a chance that the A380 will be dropped after Thanksgiving and the A340-313 will replace it on those routes. “While I like the A380 and it fits this new philosophy of moving people in mass quantities,” says President Peter McKay, “it just it way too expensive to operate on what would normally be considered a ’short route’ compared to the aircraft’s normal range envelope.”

In a related story, THX President, Peter McKay announced that he would not relaunch Air Fresno, a fictional regional airline based out of Fresno Yosemite International Airport (KFAT). “I cannot concentrate on two virtual airlines,” he said, “and The Hawaii Express has more potential than a small fictional regional airline.” The Air Fresno website will be continue to be hosted for the time being but it will not be updated further, and after the first of the year all of the website pages will be deleted.

Visit their website for more information.

Wings Over Holland hopes this will boost pilot confidence when flying in English-speaking sessions and while communication with English-speaking controllers in FSX multiplayer. Pilots enrolled at the school are cooperating with Birmingham Virtual Airport where they are integrated into Birmingham’s Virtual Airline Financial Systems (VAFS).

“It was discovered that those pilots have more fun fly[ing] for foreign virtual airlines,” said the Wings Over Holland President, “[and] it’s our wish that more virtual airlines give new pilots the possibility to learn fly and to raise their skill [level while being taught] by experienced and dedicated pilots.”

 Wings Over Holland invites all interested members to their website, wingsoverhollandfs.page.tl, where you can also find a link to Birmingham Virtual Airport (*note: Some of the content at wingsoverhollandfs.page.tl may be inaccessible to those who are unable to read Dutch).

Pilots can train on their own in single player mode progressing through the different training levels untill they are able to correctly run through the checklists. In this way they are able to share knowledge within the entire pilot base and can also run the procedure as often as needed in a safe environment out of the dangers of online (multiplayer) traffic. After pilots feel competent enough, running the official Flock-Air Training Test headed by the Flock-Air Instructors, they can engage in checkrides and are officially able to earn certification on a number of levels. Starting at the Basics of ILS Landings, Flock-Air has also developed challenges for “Pro-Pilots” who can learn how to react correctly in the event of unexpected emergencies.

This aspect of FSX is a first for a virtual airline and Flock-Air expects this specific service may be adopted by other airlines as well. This opens up new, exciting possibilities for creating training tools for Flock-Air members as well as FSX enthusiasts the world over!

The airline, registered with VA Financial Systems (VAFS), www.vafinancials.com, is set to open before the end of the month, and Synergy ATC Academy anticipates enrollment to be hearty and brisk. The current wishlist of aircraft types is as diverse as it is extensive ranging from business jets and single-engine props to wide-bodied commercial airliners and twin-turboprop puddle-jumpers.

Up for consideration are the Airbus A320 family (A318, A319, A320, A321), A330 series, and the A340-600 along with the Cessna Citation X, Grand Caravan, and C170. The Embraer E-Jet series (E70, E90), the Boeing 737NG series (B737-700, -800, -900, and BBJ series), 747 series (B747-200/F/300/F/400/F), 757-200/300 in both passenger and cargo variants, 767-300/400 in ER and standard configurations, 777-200/ER/LR/300/ER, the deHavilland Twin Otter (DH6) and the Bombardier Q series of turboprops (Q100/200/300/400) are also being considered. The airline is also looking at the McDonnel Douglas DC-10/F, MD-11/F and even the DC-3 are being considered for use as cargo aircraft, and exotic aircraft like the AN-225, C-5, C-17 and XB-70 are also being reviewed.

Obviously the list is lengthy but not exhaustive. The airline is looking to maintain a positive cash-flow and considers pilot morale a priority over company performance, especially in the volatile environment of today’s commercial aviation market. It is important to note that the airline is still planning its global business strategy and no plans have yet to be finalized.

Any interested pilots should visit www.synergyatc.com for more information.

Premier Airways is a large domestic and international carrier operating from Boston Logan International and Las Vegas International.  Equipment list features a large fleet from the Beech 1900D to the Boeing 767-300.